By Precious Momoh
Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has been appointed by President Bola Tinubu to lead the country’s delegation at the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024. The event scheduled to be held in Apia, Samoa, from October 21 to 26, will bring together heads of state, including King Charles III, to discuss significant global and regional matters impacting the Commonwealth.
CHOGM 2024 Focus
The 2024 CHOGM, themed “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth,” will prioritize strategies to strengthen the resilience of Commonwealth nations. Leaders from 56 member countries, including Shettima, will discuss how to leverage the Commonwealth Advantage for economic growth and sustainable development. A statement from the Vice President’s spokesperson, Stanley Nwokocha, highlighted that the meeting would seek to explore avenues for harnessing collective strength through digitalization and innovation.
In line with this year’s theme, the forum will emphasize cooperation in tackling pressing global challenges, including economic crises, environmental issues, and security threats. “The theme will focus attention on how member countries can harness their strengths through resilience, unlocking potential, leveraging the ‘Commonwealth Advantage’, and fostering a connected, digital Commonwealth.” Nwokocha said.
Key Role for Nigeria
Nigeria, as the largest African member of the Commonwealth, is expected to play a crucial role in this year’s summit. An important agenda item will be the election of the next Commonwealth Secretary-General, which is decided through a rotation system across different regions. Candidates for the position are from Lesotho, Ghana, and The Gambia, with Nigeria’s support potentially pivotal in determining the outcome.
“The candidates for the role are from Lesotho, Ghana, and The Gambia, while Nigeria will have a major role to play as the largest African member in this regard.” the Vice President’s office confirmed.
Vice President Shettima is expected to use the platform of CHOGM to promote investment opportunities in Nigeria, particularly through participation in the Commonwealth Business Forum. The event will gather global business leaders to champion innovative solutions to global challenges. Shettima will also engage in bilateral meetings aimed at attracting more foreign investment to Nigeria.
Additionally, Shettima’s participation in the Commonwealth People’s Forum will further emphasize Nigeria’s leadership in international development issues. This forum, the largest organized by the Commonwealth Foundation, allows citizens to engage with global leaders on topics like climate change, economic development, and human rights
The CHOGM 2024 conference is expected to build on the progress made at the previous summit held in Kigali, Rwanda. Leaders will delve into how Commonwealth nations can cooperate to address common challenges, including climate change and global inequality.
